Flames having trouble winning when things are tight in third period

This season, the Calgary Flames have outscored their opponents by a noticeable amount in the third period.

Yet, they're a losing team when games are tied going into the final frame, a trend that reared its ugly head in yesterday's 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators.

The Flames and Predators were tied 3-3 heading into the third period, which sounds like a perfect situation for the Saddledome hosts.

But it wasn't.

"We're not closing it out and finding our ways to get points out of it and wins," said Flames captain Jarome Iginla, whose pair of second-period goals gave his team a 3-2 lead it couldn't maintain yesterday.

"That's a game we should have got one point, maybe two points out of. That's been a little bit of a story lately."

To make matters more befuddling, the Flames surrendered only four shots on goal in the final frame, one of which was Dave Scatchard's empty-net goal which sealed the deal after Cody Franson's game-winner.

Sometimes, statistics truly don't add up.

The Flames have outscored their opponents by a 29-23 margin in the final frame this season.

However, they have a 3-4-2 mark when games are tied heading into the final 20 minutes.

The last two losses have followed the script, which is a big reason the Flames have just one win in their last five outings.

"When you're rolling, you find ways to get those late goals on them. We found ways to get them earlier (in the season)," Iginla said.

"We had some point-blank chances in the third to tie it, a big push, but we realize it comes down to wins and points and getting it done.

"We didn't do that."

The story of statistics seemed out of sync with the final result yesterday in other ways, too.

The Preds were held to just 20 shots, and with goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff starting for the Flames, that would usually translate into victory.

Instead, the Flames head into their final pre-Christmas game searching for the win that will put them off and running on a winning streak.

"We did a lot of good things," Iginla said.

"Our powerplay was a lot better, and the penalty kill was strong.

"We got our chances and kept (theirs) down.

"It's just a little bit of a rut," he added.

"You look at our last five or six games, we've been in a pretty good position in the third period."

They're just not sealing the deal when it comes down to crunch time.

RANDY.SPORTAK@SUNMEDIA.CA

MORE NHL: PAGES 4, 5, 8

THREE STARS

AS CHOSEN BY SUN MEDIA

MARTIN ERAT, PREDATORS

One goal, two assists and was a constant threat.

JAROME IGINLA, FLAMES

Two goals and one assist for the Calgary captain.

MARCEL GOC, PREDATORS

A three-point night, including key game-tying tally late in the second.